A Guide to the E. W. Chambers Diary, [ca. 1857]-1956

The E. W. Chambers Diary, [ca.
1857]-1956, chronicles the daily military life of Elijah Windsor Chambers during his
service in Captain John W. Kolfus’s company of the 16th Texas Cavalry Volunteer
Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

Born in Indiana, Elijah Windsor Chambers (1840-1892) was one of thirteen children to
Elisha and Margaret Ann (Mannon) Chambers, including William Clinton (1836-1862),
James Milton Chambers (1844-1862), and Elizabeth Bryan. Elijah, William, and James
served together in Captain John W. Kolfus’s company of the 16th Texas Cavalry
Volunteer Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In 1866, E. W.
Chambers married M. M. McPherson, with whom he had several children.

The E. W. Chambers Diary, [ca. 1857]-1956, chronicles the daily military life of
Elijah Windsor Chambers during his service in Captain John W. Kolfus’s company of
the 16th Texas Cavalry Volunteer Regiment in the Confederate Army during the Civil
War. The diary also contains writings by J. Milton Houston, [ca. 1857], as well as a
listing of Chambers family births and deaths from 1810 to 1956. Additionally, the
collection includes a transcript of the diary, transcripts of letters from Chambers
to his sister Elizabeth Bryan, 1862-1863, as well as photocopies of military records
and a family photograph.

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s "History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light" project, 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers

Inventory

box

3J299

Civil War diary of Elijah Windsor Chambers with writings by J. M.
Houston and a listing of Chambers family births and deaths,
1810-1956